Astronomy Lecture - Faster than Light Travel? The Physics of the Warp Drive -

Name: Astronomy Lecture - Faster than Light Travel? The Physics of the Warp Drive -
Start: 2025-01-17T20:00:00-08:00
Location: 1216 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA, United States, California 91125

Schedule

Fri, 17 Jan, 2025 at 08:00 pm

UTC-08:00

Location

1216 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA, United States, California 91125 | Pasadena, CA

Science fiction is full of spaceships capable of traveling at faster-than-light speeds, but is the "warp drive" necessary for these speeds even compatible with the laws of physics? Join us for a 30-minute lecture about the physics of faster-than-light travel and what it would take to build such a device, followed by a panel Q&A consisting of several astrophysicists to answer your questions about astronomy and space science.
This public astronomy event will be hosted both in-person as well as live-streamed over YouTube Live. The lecture will be 30 minutes, followed by a 90-minute session of telescope-aided stargazing and a Q&A Panel consisting of experts in the department on a variety of astronomy and astrophysical topics. You can attend in person or interact with us through the YouTube interface. Event is free and open to all, no reservations necessary.
For more information including a link to the YouTube Livestream and directions to Caltech, click on the poster image or visit our webpage: http://outreach.astro.caltech.edu
Title: Faster than Light Speed? The Physics of the Warp Drive
Lecturer: Elias Most
Abstract:
The vastness of space is so great that travel to the nearest star system requires tens of thousands of years using conventional rocket technology. However, the world of science fiction has many examples of ships capable of making this journey in hours or days by traveling at faster-than-light speeds. But are the "warp drives" necessary for achieving these speeds even compatible with the laws of physics as we know them? In this talk, I will discuss the physics of proposed warp drives in the context of Einstein’s equations of General Relativity. I will also comment on the intrinsic obstacles to creating such devices in practice.